Rothstein projected third-round rookie Kenny Golladay as the third receiver—which, in today’s NFL, is effectively a starting position. Left tackle Greg Robinson, acquired in an emergency trade when starter Taylor Decker suffered a shoulder injury in OTAs, is one of four players battling for the right to stand in for Decker.

Decker, though, will be the unquestioned starter when he returns—so while someone else will start Week 1, there’s no true turnover at this position.

Like this article?

Sign up for the Lions Wire email newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning.

Success

Thanks for signing up.
You'll be waking up a little more awesome tomorrow.

Whoa!

Something went wrong.

Free-agent defensive lineman Cornelius Washington, utterly miscast when the Chicago Bears switched from a 4-3 to a 3-4 base, will fit in as a strong-side run-stuffer. That means he’s likely to ‘start’ as the primary first-down option, but unless he surprises the way Kerry Hyder did last year, Hyder will get a heavier workload.

Finally, Rothstein slotted free-agent signee Paul Worrilow in at the weakside linebacker position, with Tahir Whitehead moving from last year’s inside role to the strong-side spot. I was surprised to see Rothstein align them this way, as Whitehead’s more naturally suited for the WILL role—but Rothstein noted the two outside ‘backers might be flipped.

Whomever plays the SAM role, it might not be a very big one. Detroit used a lot of three-safety looks last season, as well as the nickel and dime packages that most teams now use more often than not. Davis and Whitehead will probably be the only two linebackers who see “starter” reps.

That’s why it’s interesting that although Rothstein chose three receivers as starters, he didn’t choose three cornerbacks.

Technically, Detroit is returning the same four starting defensive backs from 2016—unheard-of continuity for this unit. Yet, the Lions signed slot corner D.J. Hayden to a hefty one-year deal, and drafted cornerback Teez Tabor in the second round.

They didn’t make those moves for those players to not see the field in 2016.

So until the team actually suits up and takes the field, we won’t know exactly what the new-look Lions will look like, or how big a role many of these additions will play.